During a Lenten series on peace and justice issues, a speaker questioned why we are focusing so much on Ukraine but not on other places of suffering. She cited the desperate situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has the largest number of Mennonites in any country. [More than 5.5 million people have been displaced by militia violence over the past year in eastern DRC. — ­Editor] She asked, “Is racism a possible reason?” There are a number of other places of suffering due to conflicts, climate issues such as drought and rising sea levels, and famine. Reading Caste by Isabel Wilkerson makes me wonder if “unconscious bias” could be a factor. I grieve for those suffering in Ukraine, but I also grieve for so many vulnerable and hurting people around the world.

Nancy A. Yoder, Harrisonburg, Va.